Senior Met detective charged in News of the World leaks probe

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A senior Metropolitan Police detective has been charged with misconduct in a public office for allegedly leaking information to the News of the World.

Detective Chief Inspector April Casburn faces an accusation that she offered to give the now defunct tabloid information in September 2010, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

She is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 1 October.

Principal legal adviser Alison Levitt QC said: "The CPS received a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police Service which arose from Operation Elveden in relation to April Casburn. Ms Casburn is employed by the Metropolitan Police Service as a Detective Chief Inspector in Specialist Operations.

"We have concluded, having carefully considered the file of evidence, that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that it is in the public interest to charge DCI Casburn with misconduct in public office."

Casburn faces an allegation that on 11 September, 2010 "being a public officer, and acting as such, without reasonable excuse or justification, wilfully misconducted herself to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in that office".

She is accused of contacting the NOTW and offering to give the newspaper information.

The charges have been brought as part of Operation Elveden, an investigation into alleged corrupt payments to officials that has so far seen 50 arrests.

Levitt added: "May I remind all concerned that DCI Casburn is now charged with a criminal offence and has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice that trial. For these reasons it would be inappropriate for me to comment further."